Wade helps Heat rout Raptors

Wade tied his season high with 37 points to lead five players in
double figures for the Miami Heat en route to a 99-77 triumph
over the Raptors, who dropped their fourth straight game.

Alonzo Mourning and James Posey scored 12 points apiece and
Jason Williams added 11 for the Heat, who returned home after a
2-2 West Coast swing that concluded with a 123-107 defeat at
Denver on Friday.

"Coming off a game at Denver where we didn't play that well,"
Wade said. "To be able to come back off that game, especially
with guys out, not at full strength, to play the way we did is a
tribute (to our players)."

Wade connected on 13-of-21 shots and made 11-of-13 free throws
to eclipse the 30-point plateau for the 10th time this season.
He also handed out five assists.

"I was attacking the basket," Wade added. "It's been tough
getting to the basket this year, so when I saw the opportunity
to get there, I tried to make the most of it."

Wade has already had two 37-point performances earlier this
campaign.

In the second quarter, Miami created a comfortable cushion when
it bridged an impressive 24-7 surge to hold a 44-29 bulge with
just over six minutes remaining.

Wade scored 13 of his 15 second-quarter points during a
four-minute stretch to help the Heat grab their largest lead at
halftime this season, 58-38.

Miami outscored Toronto, 34-15, in the second period.

"I don't take him (Wade) for granted at all. He is very unique
at getting to the basket and how he finishes," Heat coach Pat
Riley said. "When defenses have him cornered, he finds a gap
and gets through there. He had his quickness and he made some
great shots. We are blessed to have him and right now we need
it."

The Raptors used a 20-7 run after the break to cut the deficit
to 65-58 with 5:56 left. But the Heat closed the period on a
10-2 burst to regain control for good, including eight points
from Wade.

"When Dwyane wants to get a shot, he breaks a guy down and goes
1-on-1," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "Having a player like
that makes it easier on the whole team."

"We are going to have to play with some toughness," Toronto
swingman Morris Peterson said. "We are going to have to
compete. We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We can't hang our
heads. Nobody is going to get us out of this except for us."

Toronto's Chris Bosh missed his second straight game with a
bruised knee. The 6-10 All-Star forward leads the team in
scoring (20.5) and rebounds (12.2) this season.

"It's tough. Chris put a lot of pressure on the opposing team's
defense," Ford said. "We have to come out from the beginning
and make it a point to attack the rim. We have to play better
and smarter basketball."